A/N: Alrighty-roo! A lot of love being felt here, and a lot of guesses to the reference, but of all of them, only one of you was correct. Before getting to it and declaring the winner, I want to make a few announcements. First and foremost: guys, this story has reached almost 1500 followers. That is huge to me. It shows me that people actually have faith in me, that you guys, in some way (basically non-romantic) love me. Seriously, that helps me with my self-esteem issues a lot. Second; the favorites aren't far behind with about 14 shy of 1000.
Final announcement before declaring the winner. I'm going to strive to do this kind of competition more often. It might reference an anime, movie, tv show,or book that I enjoy. I'll always tell you at that point about it being a reference, so no worries, and same as these two chapters, I'll dedicate the next chapter to whomever manages to correctly guess what it is first.
On that note... cireshadow! This chapter is yours! Bask in it! Hime-roshi was a reference to a recurring joke in an anime I've watched called 'My Bride is a Mermaid', where one of the support characters basically pulls the same stunt. If you haven't already, I highly suggest you watch the series. It's great.
ON TO THE STORY! (this chapter is First-person)
Chapter 47: Emotional Turmoil
It started as normal a day as always; wake up, eat breakfast made by oba-chan, then head to training. It had been going well for me... up until I got to my usual training ground. There I found an... unexpected sight waiting for me.
Kirabi.
"Yo, little man. You fit into my master plan. We gotta get tight, so we're gonna fight. Fool, ya fool."
Odd. He seemed to rap everything he said. Nice of Kurama to mention that little detail. I figured he'd expect similar from me.
"You caught me off my guard, and that's really hard. What's your whole deal, and why should I think it's real? We ain't friends, it's true, but I don't think I could call you my enemy too." I saw a ghost of a smirk appear on his face, framed by his goatee. "So if we gotta fight, I'll match ya blow for blow, who knows, I might even win, 'ttebayo."
"I like you kid, you got some sick rhymes. I might try to hang out with you some time." with that, he held out his fist to me, holding it there. I looked at it in confusion.
Kit, it's called a fist-bump.
Am I supposed to tap my knuckles to his or something?
Yes.
What really?
Yes, really. I shrugged and tapped my fist to his own, similar to how I'd done with Yagura. Except... ya know... with a fist, instead of just the back of my hand. Within seconds of me doing that, Kirabi smiled broadly and instantly swiped at me with one of his swords, almost nicking me. Kami, I was glad I'd been training to materialize Chakra Weapons faster.
My crimson Katana stopped his blade mere inches from my face. I kept my face schooled to a look of boredom.
"You're quick on the draw," Kirabi commented.
"Almost as fast as my pa," I commented. His shades glinted weirdly and he smirked. He drew another blade and jumped back, taking a stance of two blades as I drew one of my two physical Katana.
"Then it's as I suspected, this secret's been protected."
"What are you going to do with this intel? Tell your Kage?"
"Nah, my bro would just rage, me and him ain't on the same page, I respected your old man, but my bro wasn't his biggest fan. Just 'cause we fought, but that was war, he was stronger than we thought, but we ain't enemies no more."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm sure A would disagree, I'm pretty sure him and Onoki hate me."
"If they knew the truth, that would be true, but as it is, they got no beef with you." Our words were exchanged as we crossed blades, not really fighting, just limbering up.
"I know there's a plan, an invasion is due, be straight with me man, what side are you?" Kirabi grimaced and began swinging harder and faster, trying to get past my guard.
"I really don't know," he said as he began fighting in earnest. "I'm a little torn. Loyal to family, or the ideas I hold dear?" I was a little shocked he didn't rap that bit, but I didn't let it slow me down.
Swing after swing I deflected, until I grew fed up and jumped back, sheathing my corporeal Katana and dispelling the other.
"Loyalty should always be to an ideal before a person, otherwise war will ensue. Land, money, power, what we have on this world is irrelevant. It's what we leave behind that matters, and personally, I choose to leave behind my ideals. If even one person follows my beliefs when I die, that's good enough for me."
"And what is it you believe? What do you strive to achieve?"
"Peace," I said as I threw my arms out and looked to the trees. "Peace for all, that the next generation need not worry about a war at their front gate. Peace, that none fear their loved ones will not return." I dropped my arms to my sides and looked at the ground.
"It's strange that you claim to want peace, yet train for war. You're words aren't nearly enough, I'll need a bit more."
"I'm a product of my environment," I answered with a shrug. "So long as war is a reality, People like us will always be a necessity. I just want it to end so my cousin can live. I want this reality to end, so my aunt can relax. I fight to protect, to ensure safety. If some view that as wrong, then that's their opinion."
"You're old man had much the same view. He sought to protect so little few."
"My biological father was a great man, and to this day, I see him as my hero. But even greater to me is my Tou-chan, the man who adopted me. I have no doubt my father would be here for me had circumstances allowed, but he isn't. There's no point in living in the past, the way I see it."
"Well said, and too true, but enough chit-chat, I ain't through with you." Kirabi then jumped, unsheathing all eight of his swords, and held them in several different parts on his body. It looked odd, but I had no doubt he was proficient at the style. With a sigh I took my kenjutsu stance, the Uzuryuu, and formed two Katana. "Why not use your ones already there? It seems easier, if even just a hair."
"I need the practice." Kirabi nodded and began spinning and jumping every which way, slashing with his blades. I was immediately on the defensive, but not for the reason Kirabi would think. His style was similar to the UzuRyuu. Too similar. I growled and took a quickstep forward, then began my attack, rotating ferociously. That was, after all, the whole point of the Uzumaki Kenjutsu- to become the whirlpool.
"Man it's been so long, still just as fierce, if I ain't careful, I'm sure to get pierced."
"So, you fought Kushina in the war, did you?" I spat. "How else would you know enough about the UzuRyuu to make a rip-off?"
"Yes it's true, I ain't denying that, I needed new style, Kumo's was old hat. I could never learn the true whirl blade, but I could make a style that was almost the same."
I stopped suddenly and dispelled my blades. "This fight is over, I'll see you next week, but whoever you side against, their future looks bleak."
"I could say the same for you, you're quite strong, when we first started, I thought you were your mom."
I froze and went rigid. He couldn't mean what I thought he did.
"Your mother held my respect even more than your old man. She was the only person I was truly afraid of, and it had nothing to do with her burden. It was nice to meet you, Uzumaki Naruto." I snapped back around to see... nothing. Kirabi had vanished, but he got his point across. He knew my parents, and he knew who I was. In the shinobi world, knowledge is power, and he held it all, but he merely sparred with me and talked. He didn't appear to be planning to use the knowledge, but then, the best never do.
With a roar of frustration, I lashed out, subconsciously forming chains that sprouted from every limb, in multiple places, including several spots down my spine, and from the seal on my stomach. I screamed again, and the chains whipped everywhere in a frenzy, slashing down trees that had stood tall since the Leaf was built. I fell to my knees and punched the ground as hard as I could, probably breaking a few bones, but I didn't notice. I didn't notice as my chakra receded back inside my body. I didn't notice as a gentle hand came to rest on my shoulder. I only noticed when my head was guided to the crook of a shoulder, and the other hand of whoever it was began stroking my hair, quite shushing sounds reverberating through the body that held me.
"It's all right, Naruto-kun," the person crooned. The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it at the time. "Tell me what's wrong."
"It's too much," I gasped as my eyes began to water. "I can't keep doing this. I can't. I don't have the strength."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't keep being the stoic pillar everyone expects me to be. I can't guide anyone. I'm not strong enough to protect myself... how can I protect anyone else?" the person remained silent for several moments, just stroking my hair, trying to calm me.
"If you aren't strong enough to protect yourself, I'll have to." I pulled back, tears streaming down my cheeks, to see Haku smiling gently at me. "If you're so focused on protecting others, then I'll have to be the one to protect you, won't I?"
"But..."
"Your problem is that you think you have to protect everyone. Sometimes, you just have to let someone protect you. That's how being a Shinobi works," Haku said as she rested her hand on my cheek, rubbing her thumb under my eye.
"I'm not worth protecting..." I argued weakly.
"Yes you are," she replied sternly. "You are kind, and funny, and you have one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen."
"But I'm a monster..."
"No you aren't. You aren't the Kyuubi,"
"THIS ISN'T ABOUT KURAMA!" I snapped. "I've done more vicious and despicable things than anyone could imagine. I've done so much evil, and I can't undo it!"
"Like you said, you're a product of your environment." I blinked at her.
"You heard me say that?"
"I've been watching you since I got to the village," she admitted with a blush. "I admire you." I scoffed self-deprecatingly.
"For what?"
"Like I said, kind, funny, but you're also strong, and smart, and you are admittedly very handsome. But most of all, it's your determination I admire." I sat there, staring at her blankly, my mouth slightly open. She started fidgeting after a few moments, then she scooted back, putting some distance between us now that I wasn't having a breakdown. She appeared uncomfortable. I don't know what came over me, I swear to Log, I didn't, but I couldn't stop myself. I surged forward and gently grabbed Haku's face, pulling it to me.
Then our lips met.